Five Stunning Towns to See On Your Day Trips from Nice

The most awaited season of the year has arrived – British Summer Time! Although not totally safe from the clutches of harsh English weather, at the very least we can now wear happy summer outfits on levels in which the weather allows and bare legs without worry. Admittedly it is a fantastic time to travel across Europe to get a year’s dose of that much needed sunlight.

When speaking of summer destinations, Nice, France is a perfect choice for any traveler hungry for some sun and sea. The French Riviera gravitates tourists from all over the world with its infamous beaches and seaside promenades – myself included. My last adventure to Cote d’ Azur ended with a promise of returning the following year – and yes, my tickets are already booked! I am not exaggerating when I say that Nice has the bluest waters and skies I have laid my eyes upon and it is something I would gladly come back to.

Promenade du Paillon

However, there is more to Nice than sunbathing, gelato frenzy and lazy afternoons riddled with mojitos. It is a good starting point for day trips to fill up on art, culture and history. Why not widen your horizons and discover the charming neighboring towns of South France? Here are a couple of day trip ideas from Nice that I have personally done during my last visit to Cote d’ Azur. Getting to these towns are not complicated and most of all won’t hurt the bank. If you’re in Nice, you definitely have to drop by at least one of them – life is too short to pass on these stunning places!

Menton
Travel time: 4o minutes
Getting there: Bus 100, Bus 110 (Express). Alternatively, you can take the a train from Nice Ville to Menton
Travel Cost: €1.50 for the bus and €3.90 for the train

If there is a place in Cote d’ Azure that best showcases its beauty before the place got engineered into greatness, it would be Menton. Some call it the hidden pearl of the French Riviera because it has not basked in fame like other communes in Southern France. Well, not yet at least. This seaside town is nothing short of beautiful from the relaxed vibe, the array of dulcet homes, old docking port to the pastel hues of Old Town Menton.

Pretty corners of Menton. Every February, a Lemon Festival is held in town so be sure to join the party if you’re around this time of year.

My first memory of the place was seeing a man and his dog briefly stopping by the communal drinking fountain for a drink. My friend later on explained that there are numerous drinking fountains across the towns of South France, most of which were built from the time of the Romans – although some are more decorative than functional. Just keep an eye for the “eau potable” sign.

Viajera Travel Tip: Cross the borders and head off to Italy! Menton is the last city before crossing over to Italian borders. Why not go straight to Ventimiglia for some extra sightseeing and get yourself some authentic Parmigiano Reggiano.

A medieval town over the hilltops surrounded by rivers and springs, Vence is the best place to appreciate nature while contemplating history and art at the same time. Come and adore pillars and vestiges dating back to the Roman era, including the Cathedral Notre Dame de la Nativité which was built from the 4th century. The stone walls and alleyways are silent witnesses to the changing times; of ideas that sprung from creative minds through the years.

Cathedral Notre Dame de la NativiteLa fontaine. Vence is often called the City of water because it is surrounded with rivers and springs. This is one of the town’s fountains.

Viajera Tip: Meet a Michelin – Star Chef! Satisfy your hunger for good food and art at Les Bacchanales. Situated at 247 avenue de Provence, Vence this day trip is almost incomplete without a taste of Chef Christophe Dufau’s cooking. His menu changes every week and as an advocate of locally sourced ingredients, his dishes clearly reflect the best seasonal products in this part of the world. His passion is contagious, perhaps a personification of the inspiring beauty of Vence.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is an exceptional village in Provence with its strategic location seemingly built to create inspiration among artists and poets. Walk among its cobbled streets and you will understand how the place became a hub for artists, poets and writers. Maybe it’s the way the sun strikes the village or probably the breathtaking views all too abundant to the place, but Saint-Paul-de-Vence cradled artists into greatness like no other place on Earth. Artistic presence is so strong that you can feel it being celebrated in the open – air galleries, museums and even to the quaint shops around the village.

This town will entice nature lovers with the heavily forested Roya Valley and sparkling lake formed by a hydro – electric dam. It is a quick getaway for being one with nature and maybe a picnic while enjoying the lakeside view. The narrow streets and restored ancient houses add to the town’s charm and there is a church from the 17th century still standing up to this day.

When one talks about going to Grasse, France, topics about perfumes and perfumeries inevitably ensue. The world’s perfume capital lives up to its name with perfumeries like Fragonard, Galimard and Molinard offering free guided tours for a closer look on how perfume is made from raw materials. It’s a fantastic chance to put your olfactory skills to the test and maybe hoard perfume straight from the manufacturers.

Viajera Travel Tip: Fill out the visitor’s form in Fragonard and receive their brochure via post for free. Not only will you get fantastic gift ideas at factory price, they also send out free samples!

My Fragonard freebies! Merci Fragonard!

Do you have any travel stories from your day trip adventures? Share them in the comments below!

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Many many thanks to my good friend Prof. Ricky Giganto for taking the time out of his busy schedule to make sure I had a good time for all the duration of my stay. Please drop by London soon and let me return the favor. Special mention to Raissa and Jethro! xx